Commencement Matter: The need for the Minister for Justice and Equality to outline the criteria for free legal aid and address the need for reform.

Commencement Matter: The need for the Minister for Justice and Equality to outline the criteria for free legal aid and address the need for reform.

CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY

The need for the Minister for Justice and Equality to outline the criteria for free legal aid and address the need for reform.- Senator John O’Mahony

Response by the Minister for State Daly .

I have been asked by Minister Flanagan to respond to this matter, as he is unable to attend this morning.

As the Senator may be aware, under the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Act 1962 (and a series of regulations made thereunder), free legal aid may be granted by the court in certain circumstances, for the defence of any person of insufficient means in criminal proceedings. An applicant for legal aid must establish to the satisfaction of the court that his/her means are insufficient to enable him/her to pay for legal aid and the court must also be satisfied that by reason of the “gravity of the charge” or “exceptional circumstances”, it is essential in the interests of justice that the applicant should have legal aid. Under the 1962 Act, the courts, through the judiciary, are responsible for the granting of legal aid. I have no function in these matters which are determined by the judiciary which is independent in the exercise of its functions.

The provision of an effective criminal legal aid service to persons facing serious charges which could result in the loss of their liberty is of fundamental importance. The Supreme Court ruling in the case of State (Healy) v Donoghue [1976] I.R. 325 effectively determined that the right to criminal legal aid is, in circumstances which are quite wide in practice, a constitutional right. An accused person who faces serious changes and who cannot afford to pay for legal representation has a constitutional right to legal aid.

In addition, Article 6(3) ( c) of the European Convention on Human Rights provides that every person charged with a criminal offence is entitled to defend themselves in person or through legal assistance of their choosing or, if they have insufficient means to pay for legal assistance, to be given it free when the interest of justice so require.

General Scheme of Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Bill 2017

The Minister’s Department is preparing a draft General Scheme of the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Bill 2017 .

The key purpose of the draft legislation is, subject to Government approval , to transfer the administration of the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme from the Department to the Legal Aid Board with the purpose of ensuring that best practice financial management and control are exercised and to give effect to Government Programme commitments on criminal legal aid.

The following commitments contained in the Programme for Government will be addressed in the General Scheme :

- Transfer responsibility for the operation of criminal legal aid from the Department to the Legal Aid Board.